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A53414 An exact and faithful narrative of the horrid conspiracy of Thomas Knox, William Osborne, and John Lane, to invalidate the testimonies of Dr. Titus Oates, and Mr. William Bedlow by charging them with a malicious contrivance against the E. of Danby, and the said Dr. Oates with an attempt of sodomy wherein are exemplified from the originals I. Four forged letters dictated by Thomas Knox, II. Five false informations, one paper of memorials, and one other information against Dr. Oates for sodomy, forged by Knox in the names of Lane and Osborne, III. The informations, depositions, examinations, and confessions of the said Knox, Osborne, and Lane, taken upon oath before Sir William Waller and Edmund Warcup, Esq., IV. An account of some depositions taken before the Lords Committees of Secresie, relating thereunto, V. The breviates of the councel for the King at the trials of the said Knox and Lane, Nov. 25, 1679, wherein full satisfaction is given to the world of the whole cause, by the particular evidences of the witnesses in behalf of the King / published by the appointment of me, Titus Oates. Oates, Titus, 1649-1705. 1680 (1680) Wing O41; ESTC R4560 41,985 38

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took him by the Privy-Members and said that he would be Friends with the Informant and at the same time when Mr. Oates's hand was in the Informant's Breeches and held him by the Members the said Mr. Oates unbutton'd the Informant's Breeches with the other hand and commanded and forced with an angry Countenance with his hand the Informant to lye down upon his Belly upon the Bed and the said Mr. Oates lay'd down by the Informants side and told the Informant that he had a mind to see whether his back-side were flea'd enough and when he saw that it look'd red he took the Informant about the middle and kiss'd him in a lascivious manner and at the same time the said Mr. Oates thrust his Belly against the said Informant's side and did with his naked Privy-Members press the said Informant's Body hard and the said Informant doth further upon his Oath declare had not a VVoman that was sweeping the next Room kept a noise which made him think the rest of the Servants were come from Prayers he would grievously have abused the Body of the Informant and would certainly have bugger'd him and the Informant durst not cry out for fear of being seiz'd by the Sentinels as aforesaid and this the said Informant doth swear he had tempted to do several other times before John Lane I do believe this to be Lane's hand Tho. Knox. The Information subscribed by Lane as Knox testifies under his own hand was after some time made upon Oath before Sir James Butler for so Lane himself confesses before the Council Novemb. 4. 1679. for which see Col. Mansell's Narrative p. 64. and Sir James Butler himself owns the taking an Affidavit of Lane about Buggery charg'd upon Mr. Oates November the second see the same Narrative pag. 50. In which Information Lane acted both maliciously against Dr. Oates and warily for himself for though he had a great mind the Doctor 's Person and Evidence should be soundly disparaged yet he loved himself too well to be hang'd and therefore he lays the Crime not to be committed which would have stretch'd his own Neck but only attempted which was enough to throw Dirt upon the Doctor 's Conversation and blemish his Testimony Now because a Crime of so high and horrid guilt so contrary to Nature and above the common Standard of Villanies would never gain credit amongst those who knew the former method of the Doctors Conversation they had drawn the Information with so good advice that there was an Answer insinuated to the common Objections that might be made against the truth of it As first why did not Lane cry out for help upon the Attempt made upon him to this you are furnish'd with an Answer it was this The Informant durst not cry out for fear of being seized by the Sentinels It seems he was more afraid of the Sentinels than of the Gallows But it might be asked Why was not the Fact committed as well as attempted to this he hints a fine Answer that had not a Woman that was sweeping kept a noise which made him think the rest of the Servants were come from Prayers he would grievously have abused the Body of the Informant This old Woman was indeed handsomely contrived and so the Poets introduce some God from Heaven to salve all Difficulties when their own Plots have render'd matters intricate but should we ask Lane how the Doctors severe whipping and lashing him with Cords was a proper inducement to Lane's yielding to his Lust which certainly would have raised other passions and why he did not swear that Dr. Oates gave him Sweet meats rather than such severe Penance I know not what he would answer but that it was an errour and they will rectifie it in the next Information It is now time having exemplified all the Letters Informations and Memorials which were drawn up by themselves and kept ready to serve the occasion to proceed to those Informations which were taken upon Oath before some or other of his Majesties Justices for the Peace only I must leave this Advertisement That the four Letters the six Informations and the Paper containing three Memorials all of them here transcribed and compared were by Knox delivered into the hands of Sir William waller and Mr. Justice Warcup as he owns upon his Oath before the said Gentlemen The Examination of Thomas Knox lately Servant to the Lord Dumblane before us Sir William Waller and Edmund Warcup Esquire two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex and City and Liberties of VVestminster taken by us by Vertue of an Order of the Committee of Lords This Examinant saith That on the 1st of April walking in the painted Chamber W. Osborne came to him and told him that he being informed that he had lived in the E. of Danby's Family for some time he had something of moment to communicate to him which might be a means to save the Lord Treasurer whereupon this Examinant walked with the said Osborne into the Abby being in the Abby Osborne delivered Papers drawn up by way of Information being five in number none of them bearing any date and one Paper of several Memorials of John Lane and William Osborne The next day they brought him to the Cloysters in Westminster-Abby several meetings they had afterwards and four Letters they wrote to him About the fifth of April they went together to Mr. Cheyney at Chelsey one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace but he told them the business being of an high nature and matter of State he desired to be excused About a fortnight after this Examinant went to Mr. Dewe upon the same Errand and received the like Answer as Mr. Cheyney had done not long after he went likewise to Mr. Secretary Coventrey who told him that he being a Member of the House of Commons by whom the said Lord Treasurer had been Impeached he could not meddle in that business None of the forementioned Gentlemen his Majesties Justices of the Peace had a sight of any of the Papers but only upon the Information which this Examinant made in his own Name they and Mr. Secretary Coventrey made the same Answer This Examinant being something scrupulous in medling in the business they told him that they had been with Captain Thuar formerly and had acquainted him with this business and that he had advised them it being a nice business to let it alone till the heat of the Parliament should be a little over About a fortnight after that Will. Osborne and John Lane had communicated these matters to the Examinant they complaining that they knew not where conveniently to lodge this Examinant told them he would endeavour to find them Lodgings and the very same day by the direction of the Lord Dunblain's Coach-man went to the Sugar-Loaf in Pickadilly and took Lodgings on his own account for himself and two of his Friends and lay there with them At the time of their going from
about the Earl of Danby and Dr. Oates He confesses the writing the Letters and informations That they often shifted lodgings that Knox bore their expences and promised them great rewards That Lane being taken Knox sent my Lord Duneblanes Coachman with a hackney-Coach for him that in that Coach they went to Whitefriers where Knox acquainted him that the taking of Lane would expedite the buisiness That Knox gave him money That when Osborne was in the Gate-house Knox sent him a Note to this purpose you will be examined this afternoon we alwayes clubbed and you paid two shillings at the Sugar-leaf Tare this which note Knox has confessed and upon his Examination acknowledged he threw down a Guinny upon the table which Lane took up but to colour the business said it was only lent him but even this gives just ground of suspition to the design and now what will the whole world think and say of the Impudence of these men that after all these disappointments and bafflings after their own confessions retractions yet that they should be buoyed up to that height of confidence as to make a farther attempt upon the Doctors reputation And yet this they did for upon the nineteenth day of this instant November 1679. John Lane had mustered up so much of his declined courages as to prefer an Indictment against Dr. Oates for an attempt to commit upon him the horrid and Abominable sin of Sodomy Which Indictment being brought to the Grand Jury the Incoherence and slightness of his evidencence caused them to return an Ignoramus Dr. Oates not willing to suffer his Good name and the Credit of his Testimony to depend upon the throwing out of that bill brought an Indictment for the King against the said Knox and Lane for Osborne had withdrawn himself which came to be openly tryed at the Kings-bench bar November twenty five 1679. An account whereof the whole Nation does expect and wherein satisfaction shall be now given Novem. 25 1679. Dominus Rex versus Thomam Knox Johanem Lane For the King The Indictment sets forth that whereas Edward Coleman William Ireland and John Groves and other false Traytors to the Jury unknown 24th of April in the thirtieth year of the King that now is at the Parish of Saint Margarets Westminster did trayterously conspire consult and agree amongst themselves to kill and destroy the King and to raise War against his Majesty within this Kingdome and to change the Religion by Law established to the Superstition of the Church of Rome for which Treasons Trayterous Conspiracies Consultations and Agreements the said Coleman Ireland and Groves were afterwards attainded and put to death for the same And whereas William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford John Lord Bellasis Henry Lord Arundel of Wardour William Lord Petre and Sir Henry Tichbourn Baronet the thirtieth of Nov. last at Westminster were accused of the Treasons aforesaid and thereupon according to due forme of law were committed to the Tower of London to be there safely kept to answer the said Treasons whereof the said Earl of Powis and the other four Lords were by the Commons in Parliament assembled Impeached And whereas Thomas Earl of Danby afterwards that is to say the thirtieth of Nov. last at Westminster was in lawful manner accused of certain Treasons and other misdemeaners and thereupon according to due forme of law was committed to the Tower there to be safe kept to answer the Treasons and misdemeanours aforesaid of which said Treason and misdemeanours the said Earl of Danby is Impeached by the Commons in Parliament assembled And that the Defendants knowing the said Lords to be accused of the Treason and misdemeanours aforesaid and the said defendants being diabolically affected towards the King their natural Lord and contriving and endeavouring with all their might to disturb hinder and stifle the discovery of the said Treasons by the said Earl of Powis Viscount Stafford Lord Bellisis Henry Lord Arundel William Lord Petre supposed to be committed as aforesaid and as much as in them lay to elude the due Course of law and retard the prosecution of justice against the said five Lords Sir Henry Tichbourn and Thomas Earl of Danby They the said Defendants the thirtieth of April last past at the Parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid falsely maliciously and unlawfully amongst themselves did consult and agree to scandalize Titus Oates Clerk and William Bedlow Gent. Who had given informations of the Treasons aforesaid and whom the said Defendants knew to have given Information of the Treasons aforesaid against the Earl of Powis Viscount Stafford Lords Bellasis Arundel and Petre and to represent them upon the Trial of the said five Lords to be persons of evil Conversation and Witnesses not to be believed And that the Defendant Knox afterwards that is to say the 30th of April last at Westminster aforesaid in the Names and with the consent and agreement of the Defendant Lane and William Osborne to villifie the Information of the said Titus Oates and William Bedlow to be given for the King against the said five Lords last mentioned falsly maliciously subtilly and advisedly did write and cause to be written four Letters and those Letters so written falsly c. did direct and cause to be delivered to himself the said Defendant Knox by which said Letters it was falsly craftily and deceitfully declared that the said Lane and Osborne were very much troubled in their Consciences by reason of certain matters which they well knew and did conceal concerning the unjust contrivances of the said Titus Oates and William Bedlow in accusing the said Earl of Danby to be guilty of the Treasons and other Misdemeanors aforesaid And that the said Titus Oates was a person of a wicked and vicious Life and did make an assault upon the said John Lane and did endeavour to commit with him the said Lane Sodomy And further that the Defendant Knox the sooner and effectually to perswade the said Lane and Osborne falsly to accuse the said Titus Oates and William Bedlow that they the said Titus Oates and William Bedlow had unjustly contrary to all Truth accused the said E. of Danby of the Treasons and other Misdemeanours aforesaid and so to affirm against the Kings Evidence against the Trial to be had of the said Earl of Danby for the Treasons and Misdemeanors aforesaid afterwards the 30th of April last at Westminster falsly advisedly corruptly and against the duty of his Allegiance did give to the said Lane and Osborne divers great summs of Money And did promise to the said Lane and Osborne within a certain time by the said Defendant Knox proposed that they the said Lane and Osborne should have and receive other great summs and other rewards for the same to the great delay obstruction and suppression of Justice c. To this the Defendants pleaded not Guilty The Names of the Jury Empanelled and Sworn were as followeth Sr. John Kirke Knight Thomas Harriot
Dangerfield in his Informations of Novemb. 1. 1679 before the Councilb-oard assures us when Lane says he lay at Powis house that Lord advised he should be sent out of the way for said the Lord Powis Oates searches for him and if he be found at my house 't would ruine us All. And this Mr. Lane himself being examined by the Council Nov. 4. 1679. saies That he lay at Powis-house a month or six weeks by order of Willoughby and Mrs. Cellier from whom he had his diet That he went by the name of Johnson fearing to be arrested by Mr. Oates for what he had testified against him and in that fear he went down to Greys near Gravesend and had a pair of shooes given him by Mr. Willoughby who also got him out of Prison which was a chargeable work And being askt by one of the Lords whether he had not before the House of Lords made two contrary Affidavits he acknowledged that out of fear he did so but that the first drawn by Willoughby as Mr. Nevill had directed was true and the other false I shall not need to pursue this point any further The Lord Powis gives him house-room Mrs. Cellier paies for his diet Mr. Willoughby gives him shooes and gets him out of prison at great rates but nothing can be too dear to support so precious an Instrument of a design so near and dear to them Having gotten an Instrument so fit for the business their next consultation must be how to manage it with prudence for they had fresh Instances before their eyes of some that had endeavoured to corrupt the King's Evidence or to take away the Credit of their Testimony which had miserably miscarried These examples though fresh in memory were not sufficient to deter them from proceeding in so pious a work but only ought to caution them to proceed with more advice and therefore Mr. Knox who like the Mole under ground was the grand Agent must not appear by any means but seem to be haled into the concern by the repeated importunities of Lane and Osborne and for this end Mr. Knox finds this the only expedient to indite several Letters which being written out by them or one of them might be sent with great formality to his own worthy self wherein they are to intimate to him that knowing him a person that had a due veneration for the Earl of Danby they judged him the only meet person whom to acquaint with their secrets they tell him or rather he tells himself how they laboured continually under the stings of their own consciences for concealing that which might clear up the Innocency of the said honourable person that they had tryed several waies to divert these black thoughts but all would not do still they were pursued by their guilt and therefore entreat beseech and importune him that he would put them in a way to exonerate their consciences 'T is very true the only real way to have recovered their peace if they could be said to lose what they never had was to have repented of their horrid and hellish Combination against the Innocency of Dr. Oates and Captain Bedlow but it was not a Cure they designed but a greater wound not to unload their souls of but further to charge them with guilt It was agreed Dr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow must be guilty the Catholick Cause required it and therefore if they could forge a Conspiracy between Mr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow against the Earl of Danby it would prove a fatal blow at the root of the House and the prosecution of the Plot must needs fall to the ground And if it could be once made out that there had been a Conspiracy against the late Lord Treasurer it would by consequence go far to prove that all the Evidence that should be given in against the Lords in the Tower was of the same metal and would vanish into smoak And that great man the E. of Danby was so confident of success in the fair promising hopes of Mr. Knoxes Agency that he delivered himself up at the sitting of the Parliament to the Usher of the Black Rod not fearing any colours But I shall not any longer detain the Reader from looking into the mystery of these Letters A true Copy of four Letters sent from William Osborne and John Lane to Thomas Knox by the direction of the said Knox the Original Letters being in the Relators possession Numb 1. Superscribed To Mr. Thomas Knox these Apr. 2. 1679. SIR I Had forgot to tell you that yesterday morning I left Mr. Oates the wickedness of whose Conversation and lewdness of his Person I could no longer bear though I had some thoughts of going from him to Mr. Dugdale My resolution is now changed and I am resolved to go as soon as I can home to my own Countrey but I would willingly before I depart leave London with a good Conscience and in order to that I would discharge my mind of what I know concerning the malicious proceedings of Mr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow against my Lord Treasurer therefore I do _____ you if you love my Lord to put me into a w●y how I may legally discharge my Conscience of that matter which lies heavy on it and you will eternally oblige him whom I hope you do believe is Your true Friend William Osborne I do believe this to be Osborne's hand Thomas Knox. But it seems for so he would wheedle us to believe him Mr. Knox was somewhat averse to engage in a Business whose issue he could not foresee Alas the good man was flesh and blood as well as other men he lov'd to sleep in a whole skin and saw no reason he had to burn his singers in other mens fire and therefore shew'd great unwillingness to hearken to them till Mr. Osborne and Mr. Lane with united Forces assault him and by a second Letter importune him to give some ease to their troubled Consciences which Letter was dated but two days after the former so painful was it for these tender-conscienced Gentlemen to lie under the reproaches of their own hearts Numb 2. To Mr. Knox at his Lodgings this SIR MR. Lane and I are both extremely troubled that we cannot hear from you and especially in a matter of this high nature which concerns so nearly the Life of my Lord Treasur●● for we are both very uneasie and extremely troubled in our minds for fear we should lose time and my Lord Treasurer should suffer by our neglect whil●st we can with so safe a Conscience declare to the world how maliciously he is prosecuted and what Contrivances are daily practised against him by Mr. Oates and Mr. Bedlow as you might easily perceive by those Informations and other Memorials we at the first time at our meeting shewed you Sir It is now three days since our last meeting and we do now beg you for Gods sake to inform us how we may legally put an end to this matter for we are